Belgian far-right leader Bart De Wever assigned to create a new administration.
Following the conservative swing in Belgium's parliamentary elections, King Philippe has tasked Bart De Wever, the leader of the far-right Flemish Alliance (N-VA), with examining the possibility of forming a government. According to an announcement on Wednesday, De Wever is expected to identify the parties eager to create a speedy, stable coalition at the national level. In the event of a successful coalition, De Wever might assume the role of Belgium's new prime minister.
Victorious in the most recent parliamentary elections on Sunday, the N-VA could lead to De Wever replacing the currently serving liberal prime minister, Alexander De Croo, whose Open VLD party experienced a major loss in the election. Although De Croo has already submitted his resignation, he will maintain his position as head of the government for the time being.
The formation of a new Belgian government may follow its traditional complex and protracted process. This stems from Belgium's fragmented federal parliament, where parties predominantly compete in either the northern Flanders region, the Brussels capital, or the French-speaking Wallonia in the south. The formation of a government in 2019 took 493 days.
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De Wever's far-right Flemish Alliance (N-VA) emerged victorious in the recent Belgian parliamentary election, which saw a conservative shift in Belgium. King Philippe has assigned De Wever to explore the possibility of forming a government, looking for parties eager to establish a quick, stable coalition at the national level. If successful, De Wever may become Belgium's new prime minister, potentially replacing the outgoing liberal prime minister, Alexander De Croo, from the Open VLD party.
The Belgian government formation process will likely be complex and prolonged, given the country's fragmented federal parliament, as parties compete mostly in Flanders, Brussels, or Wallonia. The 2019 government formation took a record-breaking 493 days to complete.
Being a respected figure in Belgian politics, Bart De Wever, the right-wing nationalist leader, is known for his distinctive appearance, sporting a beard throughout his political career.
Likewise, the newly-elected Belgian Parliament will undoubtedly face critical issues, such as managing the country's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing domestic political tensions.
